Product sleeve with product supports

Abstract

A product sleeve for holding (typically) four products, such as bottles, has a protuberance between pairs of products to assist in holding the products in portion within the sleeve. The protuberances are formed by tabs hinged to one end panel of the product sleeve blank. These tabs have a notch and at least one further hinge line. These tabs may be pushed through openings in the other end panel of the blank so that they fold about their hinge lines to form the noted protuberances and the notch in the tabs lock to a portion of the other end panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A paperboard product sleeve blank having opposite sides and a first and second end and comprising: a plurality of panels joined end-to-end at transverse hinge lines,   a tab joined at a hinge line to the panel of said plurality of panels which is at said first end, said first end panel tab having at least one further hinge line making an angle with said hinge line, said tab comprising a first triangular portion between said hinge line and said further hinge line and a second triangular portion extending from said further hinge line such that said first end panel tab may be folded about said hinge line and said at least one further hinge line into a protuberance, said first end panel tab also having a notch, and   an opening through the panel of said plurality of panels at said second end sized to receive said first end panel tab when said first end panel tab is folded into said protuberance,   said notch of said first end panel tab for engaging with a portion of said second end panel in order to lock said first end panel tab within said opening and to lock said first end panel tab in its folded state as said protuberance, whereby said first end panel tab, when locked within said opening in a folded state as a protuberance, holds said plurality of panels in a sleeve configuration and is for abutting the base of products within the sleeve to assist in maintaining the products in position.   
     
     
       2. The product sleeve blank of claim 1 wherein said portion of said second end panel comprises a tab within said opening of said second end panel joined to said second end panel at a hinge line, said second end label tab having a notch. 
     
     
       3. The product sleeve blank of claim 2 wherein said first end panel has a tongue and said second end panel has a ledge, said tongue for overlapping with said ledge. 
     
     
       4. A paperboard product sleeve comprising: a plurality of panels joined end-to-end at transverse hinge lines terminating at a first and second bottom panel,   an opening through said second bottom panel,   a tab joined to said first bottom panel at a hinge line and folded at said hinge line and folded at at least one further hinge line which makes an angle with said hinge line into a protuberance, said folded tab protuberance having a notch, said folded tab protuberance received through said opening with said notch engaging with a portion of said second bottom panel to lock said folded tab protuberance within said opening in its folded state such that said folded tab protuberance assists in holding said plurality of panels in a sleeve configuration, said folded tab protuberance for abutting the base of products within the sleeve to assist in maintaining the products in position.   
     
     
       5. The product sleeve of claim 4 wherein said portion of said second bottom panel comprises a tab joined to said second bottom panel at a hinge line at an edge of said opening of said second bottom panel and folded about said hinge line, said second bottom panel tab having a notch engaged with said notch of said first end panel tab. 
     
     
       6. The product sleeve of claim 5 wherein said first bottom panel has a tongue and said second bottom panel has a ledge, said tongue being overlapped with said ledge and assisting said protuberance in maintaining said plurality of panels in a sleeve configuration. 
     
     
       7. The product sleeve of claim 4 wherein said opening has an edge, said edge comprising said portion of said second end panel and said first bottom panel protuberance has a further notch, said notch and said further notch engaging said edge of said opening. 
     
     
       8. The product sleeve of claim 7 wherein said first bottom panel folded tab protuberance has a triangular base portion bounded by said hinge line, a further hinge line and a still further hinge line, a first wing extending from said further hinge line and having said notch, a second wing extending from said still further hinge line and having said further notch.